Rock, Rock — who’s there?

April — the (unofficial) Month of Sauna Stones   

A large box of rocks came with my sauna — about 70 pounds of peridotite, a dark-colored, angular rough rock. Quarried rocks have lots of rough edges, all the more surface area to make löyly, the steam. They look different than the sauna stones I grew up with, but I like the way the water dances on them.

Over time, I’ve added a pink granite sphere that was found on the Minnesota shores of Lake Superior that reminds me of my grandpa’s sauna stones (the ones we moved).

Two stones were gifts. One is etched with the word “Kuuma” (meaning “hot” in Finnish). The other reads “Sisu” (meaning “determination, bravery and resilience” — and more). They warm both my heart and my sauna.

So I’m not a purist about sauna rocks. They do different jobs in my stove. What about the stones you use — are they traditional or new, similar or eclectic, decorative or functional? 

 

Nikki